Guide to the 2013 Deutsche Bank Championship

The PGA Tour makes its annual stop in Boston for the Deutsche Bank Championship this weekend, and area golf fans get the chance to see the PGA Tour’s best – including last year’s winner Rory McIlroy (pictured) – in action up close and personal at TPC Boston in Norton.

Eric Baldwin, the tournament director, has provided his insight on what to expect and watch for. Here’s Baldy’s guide to the Deutsche Bank Championship.
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Matthew Lee/ Globe Staff

Golf’s big names

The Deutsche Bank Championship, the second event of the FedExCup Playoffs, brings the top 100 PGA Tour golfers to New England over Labor Day weekend. We’re excited to have defending champion Rory McIlroy on hand, as well as past champions Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Webb Simpson, and Adam Scott. I’m sure Keegan Bradley will have a big following as well; New England fans will be out in full force cheering him on, as they always do.
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Michael Cohen/Getty

Golf’s rising stars

It’s really a special time for golf fans – there are so many great young players, and the parity on the PGA Tour is arguably the best that it’s ever been. A couple of young stars have really shown some spark this year: Jordan Spieth (20 years old, pictured), Harris English (24) and Billy Horschel (26) have all had fantastic seasons, and are well positioned inside the top 20 in the FedExCup standings. I’d recommend fans find time to follow each for at least a few holes at TPC Boston.
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Mike Ehrmann

Unique golf course

Gil Hanse – the terrific golf course architect who is currently working on the 2016 Brazil Summer Olympics course – redesigned TPC Boston back in 2007, and did a phenomenal job of bringing in a true New England feel with fescue grass, old world styling, rough bunkering.

The course has been very well received by the players. I’d recommend fans check out my favorite hole on the golf course – the drivable par-4 4th. What makes the hole so exciting is how many outcomes are in play. Anything from a double eagle to a double bogey is possible.

Our finishing holes are also fan favorites, including TPC Boston’s signature par-3 16th over water, or the reachable par-5 18th. Hanse redesigned the green complex last year, which proved to be an exciting and entertaining finishing hole for all of the players, especially as the championship came down to the last few groups.
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BARRY Chin/GLOBE STAFF PHOTO

It’s the playoffs

The FedExCup Playoffs consist of four events immediately following the PGA Tour season — The Barclays, Deutsche Bank Championship, BMW Championship and the Tour Championship by Coca-Cola. Each tournament will have an $8 million purse in addition to the $35 million FedExCup bonus pool. The PGA Tour season standings determine the top 125 players who qualify for The Barclays.

Twenty-five players are cut from The Barclays field, with the top 100 golfers in the FedExCup standings qualifying for the Deutsche Bank Championship. After the DBC, the top 70 will head on to Chicago for the BMW Championship and from there, the top 30 will vie for the Tour Championship in Atlanta.

The player who finishes first in the FedExCup standings following the Tour Championship takes home a $10 million prize.
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BARRY Chin/GLOBE STAFF PHOTO

Tournament week events

We have a great week of events fans can enjoy, even before the Deutsche Bank Championship competition rounds kickoff on Friday. We’re looking forward to hosting the Covidien Wellness Walk on Tuesday, where fans can walk the front 9 holes of TPC Boston before the Championship opens.

Proceeds from the walk will benefit the Joslin Diabetes Center, and participants are entered to win two tickets to the New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins game on Dec. 15, 2013, with complimentary airfare provided by jetBlue.

Wednesday of championship week (Aug. 28) will be Community Appreciation Day, which is free to all spectators and features a practice round, various family activities and our Military Opening Ceremonies.

Families should stop by our Kids Village from noon to 1:30 p.m. to meet mascots from some of New England’s top sports teams, including Wally the Green Monster of the Red Sox, Blades of the Bruins, and Slyde of the Revolution.

Thursday (Aug. 29) is also a great day to stop by the Deutsche Bank Championship for our annual ProAm, where the Tour’s top professionals team up with amateurs for a relaxed day of fun, entertaining golf.
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Ross Kinnaird/Getty

Tickets

Fans can get tickets for this year’s Deutsche Bank Championship by visiting DBChampionship.com, , or by visiting any area Golfsmith location – which is the only place to purchase good-any-one-day tickets.

College students with a valid college ID can purchase up to two grounds tickets for any competition day of the championship (Friday-Monday) at $25 per ticket. Kids 15 and under receive complimentary grounds admission on any day with an accompanying and ticketed adult.

We encouraged all fans to get their tickets ahead of time, as the championship has sold out
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John Tlumacki

Parking

All spectator parking will be at the Comcast Center (Comcast Center, 885 S. Main St., Mansfield, MA 02048) for $10 per vehicle. There will be continuous shuttle service to the spectator drop-off location at Autopart International. A VIP (Blue) Lot ($30 per vehicle) will be located in the Comcast Center parking lots on your right as you drive up the main boulevard. The entrance will be located halfway up the boulevard on your right. There will be a complimentary VIP shuttle running to and from the TPC Boston clubhouse.
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